Horns Spice Up Home Opener With Kicking Contest

The Longhorns regular season opening football game Friday night against the Cortez Colts will offer fans an opportunity to test their kicking skills.

According to Athletic Director Dave Bradley, Payson NAPA Auto Parts and several of its affiliates will be sponsoring a field-goal kicking contest that features a $1,000 prize. Any fan that successfully toes a field goal will be allowed to keep $500 in cash and the other $500 will go to a scholarship fund in that person's name, Bradley said.

The AD would not disclose the distance the field goal attempts would be kicked from. He did say, however, the distance would be a manageable one.

Tickets to attempt the field goal will be sold $1 per chance or six chances for $5. All proceeds from the ticket sales will benefit the Longhorn football club.

In addition to purchasing tickets, fans can earn a kicking opportunity by being the lucky recipient of one of 10 miniature footballs that will be tossed into the crowd. The lucky football that earns a fan the kicking opportunity will be the one signed by a local automobile service business.

According to Bradley, there are some regulations that dictate who can participate in the kick attempts.

"He (or she) can't be someone who has played varsity football the past three years," he said. Restrictions also eliminate soccer players and other varsity or collegiate athletes.

Bradley said he anticipates the contest will add plenty of excitement to a gridiron evening that already promises to be filled with anticipation and enthusiasm. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. in Longhorn stadium.